(6) So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 10 On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, For motion of swift thought, less could his shield, Such ruin intercept; ten paces huge

He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee
His massy spear upstay'd; as if on earth
15 Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,
Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat,
Half sunk with all his pines.-

-Now storming fury rose,

And clamor such as heard in heav'n till now 20 Was never; arms on armor clashing, bray'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise Of conflict; overheard the dismal hiss Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, 25 And flying, vaulted either host with fire. So under fiery cope together rush'd Both battles main, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage; all Heaven Resounded, and had Earth been then, all Earth 30 Had to her centre shook.

-Long time in even scale

The battle hung; till Satan, who that day
Prodigious pow'r had shown, and met in arms
No equal, ranging through the dire attack
35 Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and fell'd
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway,
Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down
Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand
40 He hasted, and oppos'd the rocky orb
Of ten fold adamant, his ample shield,
A vast circumference. At his approach
The great Archangel from his warlike toil
Surceas'd, and glad, as hoping here to end

45 Intestine war in Heav'n, th' arch foe subdu'd.
Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air
Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields
Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood

In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd,
50 Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng,
And left large fields, unsafe within the wind
Of such commotion; such as, to set forth
Great things by small, if nature's concord broke,
Among the constellations war were sprung,
55 Two planets rushing from aspect malign
Of fiercest opposition in mid-sky

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.
Milton.

The following examples are selected as a specimen of those passages, which are most favorable to the cultivation of a top to the voice. In pronouncing these, the reader should aim to get up his voice to the highest note on which he can articulate with freedom and distinctness. See remarks, page 120. If the student wishes for more examples of this kind, he is referred to EXERCISES [5.]

8. Has a wise and good God furnished us with desires which have no correspondent objects, and raised expectations in our breasts, with no other view but to disappoint them?-Are we to be forever in search of happiness, without arriving at it, either in this world or the néxt? Are we formed with a passionate longing for immortality, and yet destined to perish after this short period of exístence ?-Are we prompted to the noblest actions, and supported through life, under the severest hardships and most delicate temptations, by the hopes of a reward which is visionary and chimérical, by the expectation of praises, of which it is utterly impossible for us ever to have the least knowledge or enjoyment?

9. (°)" Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance Thy miscreated front athwart my_way

To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass,

5 That be assured, without leave ask'd of thee:
Retire, or taste thy folly; and learn by proof,
Hell-born, not to contend with spirits of Heaven."
To whom the goblin full of wrath repli'd;

66

(°)" Art thou that traitor-Angel, art thou he, 10 Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms

Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's sons, Conjur'd against the Highest, for which both thou And they, outcast from God, are here condemn'd 15 To waste eternal days in woe and pain!

And reckon'st thou thyself with spirits of Heav'n,
Hell-doom'd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn,
Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more,
Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment,
20 False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings,
Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue

Thy ling'ring, or with one stroke of this dart,
Strange horrors seize thee, and pangs unfelt before."

The Exercises of the foregoing head were designed to accustom the voice to exertion on the extreme notes of its compass, high and low. The following exercises under this head are intended to accustom the voice to those sudden transitions which sentiment often requires, not only as to pitch, but also as to quantity.

1 HEARD ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillar'd state?
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up, and tremble at her fate?
Who shall calm the angry storm?
Who the mighty task perform,

And bid the raging tumult cease?

See the son of Hermes rise ;

With syren tongue, and speaking eyes,
Hush the noise, and soothe to peace

!

2 Lo! from the regions of the North,
The reddening storm of battle pours;
Rolls along the trembling earth,
Fastens on the Olynthian towers.

3 (0)"Where rests the sword?-where sleep the brave? Awake! Cecropia's ally save

From the fury of the blast;

Burst the storm on Phocis' walls s;
Rise! or Greece forever falls,

'Up! or Freedom breathes her last!"

4 (°) The jarring States, obsequious now,
View the Patriot's hand on high;
Thunder gathering on his brow,
Lightning flashing from his eye!

5 Borne by the tide of words along,
One voice, one mind, inspire the throng:
(90) "To arms! to arms! to arms!" they cry,
"Grasp the shield, and draw the sword,

Lead us to Philippi's lord,

Let us conquer him—or die !"

1 (-) Ah Eloquence! thou wast undone ; Wast from thy native country driven, When Tyranny eclips'd the sun,

And blotted out the stars of heaven.

2 When Liberty from Greece withdrew,
And o'er the Adriatic flew,

To where the Tiber pours his urn,
She struck the rude Tarpeian rock;
Sparks were kindled by the shock-
Again thy fires began to burn!

9 Now shining forth, thou mad'st complaint
The Conscript Fathers to thy charms;
Rous'd the world-bestriding giant,

Sinking fast in Slavery's arms!

9 I see thee stand by Freedom's fane,
Pouring the persuasive strain,
Giving vast conceptions birth:
Hark! I hear thy thunder's sound,
Shake the Forum round and round-
Shake the pillars of the earth!

10 First-born of Liberty divine!

Put on Religion's bright array;
Speak! and the starless grave shall shine
The portal of eternal day!

11_ Rise, kindling with the orient beam;
Let Calvary's hill inspire the theme!
Unfold the garments roll'd in blood!
O touch the soul, touch all her chords,
With all the omnipotence of words,

And point the way to heaven-to God.

Cary.

2. Hohenlinden.....Description of a Battle with Firearms.

1 (6) On Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow,
And dark as winter was the flow

Of Iser rolling rapidly.

2 But Linden saw another sight,
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.

3 By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each warrior drew his battle blade,